20 tracks of Eddie's classic Stax sides, with a range of material that runs from 1966 through 1974. Cuts include "Knock on Wood" (of course), "Big Bird", "Check Me Out", "Soul Street", "Blood Is Thicker Than Water", and "Baby Lay Your Head ... read moreCD
An incredible album of harmony soul – easily one of the best you could ever hope to find! The Four Mints were an obscure group, but they sound really wonderful here – just as great as some of the bigger proponents of the genre in the early 70s – with an especially great talent ... read moreCD
An incredible collection of lost recordings by the Four Tops – culled from the groups earliest days with Motown in the early 60s and through the rest of the decade – a mighty testament to the pioneering group's amazing track record! Most of their sessions with Holland-Dozier-Holland ... read moreCD
A big one from Aretha Franklin's 80s comeback years on Arista Records – a set that features a surprising guest appearance from Keith Richards, but mostly concentrates on Franklin's successful run with producer/arranger Narada Michael Walden – who continues to do a great job of updating ... read moreCD
Aretha Franklin has a really classic sort of look on the cover – which is quite fitting, as the album's maybe one of her most classic records in years! The album has Franklin taking on songs by other famous female singers, but reworking nearly all of them in a style that's all her own – ... read moreCD
Aretha Franklin —
Aretha's Best ... CD Atlantic/Rhino, Late 60s/1970s/1980s. Used ...
$3.99
The clubby jazz funk debut of Freeez – plus the Anti-Freeez remix album from a couple years later – issued together along with even more bonus material in this great 2CD set! Dancefloor ready live band grooving is the warmly beating heart of the Freeez sound at this early point – ... read moreCD
(Out of print.)
Nnenna Freelon —
Heritage ... CD Columbia, 1993. Used ...
$3.99
Great early work from Lowell Fulson – tracks recorded in the 50s for Chess Records – all in Chicago, and a fair bit more obscure than some of Lowell's better-known sides from the 60s! There's still a nicely gritty groove going on here – a style that's rooted in blues, but which ... (Blues, Soul)read moreCD
Giacomo Gates affectionately and effectively steers the work of the toughest and most sharply unique songwriters of our time and into straight-forward jazz vocal territory – and it's works really well! The backing is done by a stripped down combo who lay down guitar, bass, drums and piano ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
Funky funky disco from Gaz – one of the best-remembered groups of the Salsoul 70s generation – even though they only ever cut this one album! There's a lot of tight percussion in the mix here – really rooting these tunes in a tight live instrumental vibe – and the ... read moreCD
Includes the songs "Tired Of Being Alone", "Call Me (Come Back Home)", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Here I Am (Come And Take Me)", "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart", "Let's Stay Together", "I Can't Get Next To You", "You ... read moreCD
A stunner! Al Green returns to the glorious, exuberant soul brilliance of the Hi Records years for his Blue Note debut – an amazing return to form that we could kick ourselves for not anticipating! Al Green asserted long, long ago that he had no intention of ever making another secular soul ... read moreCD
What can we say but more, more, more! Al Green's great – always great – so we're more than happy to have this second volume to his greatest hit set, one that features some unusual tunes from later years, plus classics from his 70s tenure at Hi Records. Titles include "As Long As ... read moreCD
Al Green & Teddy Pendergrass —
Back To Back Hits ... CD Hi Records/Capitol, 1970s. Used ...
$2.99
Tracks include "Tired Of Being Alone", "Love TKO", "Take Me To The River", "Turn Of The Lights", "Call Me", "Life Is A Song Worth Singing", "Close The Door", and "Here I Am (Come And Take Me)". CD
A legendary album – and for good reason too – a set that's as mysterious as it is funky, and a record that's stayed at the top of our crates for years! The album features a really unusual collective of musicians, pulled together under the guidance of producer Paul Winley – a ... read moreCD
Landmark stuff, and a beautiful album that mixes soulful tracks with Donny's nascent jazz sensibility! The set's a key chapter in the history of soul music – a record that has Donny emerging from shadows of the Chicago studio scene to become one of the most promising soul artists of the 70s. ... read moreCD
(Out of print 2013 Japanese pressing, includes obi.)
Titles include "This Is All", "Little Demon", "Just Don't Care", "You Made Me Love You", "Yellow Cat", "Frenzy", "Feast Of The Mau Mau", and "I Put A Spell On You" – 17 tracks total. CD
The classic first LP by this stellar Chicago harmony group – and a monster! Heaven & Earth had a wonderful falsetto harmony sound that reminds us a lot of east coast winners like Blue Magic or The Stylistics – and like some of the best east coast groups, this group's vocals work ... read moreCD
A flagship record from the wonderful Dome label – one of the hippest homes to contemporary soul on the other side of the Atlantic – and a company that's given us great music for over two decades! This set is one of their key early releases – a brilliant set from Hil St Soul ... (Neo Soul, Soul)read moreCD
With 43 tracks including "Big Mama Jump", "LA Blues", "Katie May", "Thinkin & Worryin", "Sugar On My Mind", "Moon Rise Blues", "Howling Wolf", and "See See Rider". (Blues, Soul)CD
2 blues classics from the great Howlin Wolf – back to back on a single CD! First up is the self-titled Howlin Wolf – a record that has Wolf tightening it up a bit from his earliest years at Chess, and moving into a groove that would forever make him one of the key artists to record for ... (Blues, Soul)read moreCD
A pair of 60s classics by the mighty Impressions – back to back on a single CD! On Keep On Pushing, there's no need for The Impressions to push from behind – because with a record like this, they're very firmly in the driver's seat! The album's a treasure through and through – ... read moreCD
An instant classic from Ronald Isley – soulful readings of tunes by Burt Bacharach, arranged, conducted, and produced by Burt himself! The album has a surprisingly gentle feel – lots of room and space for Ronald to open up vocally, in a mode that's clearly got respect for the classic ... read moreCD
An excellent collection of work by The Isley Brothers – featuring some of our favorite smooth funky tracks from the 70s by the group! The set's a nice one because it includes a lot of good tracks that are on albums that aren't that great all the way through, so you get a good album of all ... read moreCD
Filled with classics – including "Nasty", "Rhythm Nation", "When I Think Of You", "Escapade", "What Have You Done For Me Lately", "Runaway", "Miss You Much", "Come Back To Me", "That's The Way Love Goes" ... read moreCD
What a great idea! The classic Motown work of The Jackson 5 is remixed and remade by a host of super-hip producers! The cuts really retain a lot of their Motown soul flavor, and the remixers do an excellent job of pulling out some of the best elements – like guitar riffs, piano lines, and ... read moreCD
A killer 2CD set of funky grooves by one of the best backing bands ever! The JBs were James Brown's legendary combo during his monster funk years of the early 70s – and this well-selected compilation brings together 30 rare tracks from their best years! The set's got a great set of notes ... read moreCD
(Please note that this copy does not include the large booklet or the slipcase.)
Could anyone ever utter a sexier line than "Don't go to strangers, come to me?" We think not, and it's material like that that makes the album a real killer from Etta Jones – one of her best from the 60s, cut when she was really developing her skills as a vocalist, but still had ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
Hard to imagine Etta Jones being lonely and blue – especially when she sounds as great as this! The album's one of Jones' early classics from Prestige – a date that really has her classing things up a lot, and drawing on bits of Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington's styles, to mix in ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
One of our favorite albums ever from Grace Jones – a record that has her shedding some of the disco excesses of earlier years, and moving into a great blend of sounds that really showcases the energy of the New York scene from which she sprang! The album was recorded in Nassau, with help ... read moreCD
A really great solo set from Kipper Jones – previously in the group Thrust, but maybe even better here as a lead act on his own! The record was really slept on at the time, but it's definitely in the stronger side of mainstream soul of the period – new jack beats on many cuts, but a ... read moreCD
(Out of print, punch through barcode and booklet.)
A rare Japanese-only session – one that has vocalist Salena Jones joining the fusion supergroup Stuff – in a set that's easily one of the most soulful outings from both artists involved! Although Jones mostly worked overseas, she's got a slinky style here that really fits the groove of ... (Vocalists, Soul)read moreCD
(2003 XRCD24 pressing – in great shape with obi! Disc has a sample stamp and barcode has a small Japanese promo sticker.)
Tracks include "Oh What A Night", "Girl In My Heart", "Too Proud To Let You Know", "Donald Duck", "Over The Rainbow", and "Walking In The Rain". 20 tracks total. CD
The Kay-Gees are getting a little disco here, but they also still manage to lay down some nice funky tracks, in the best Kool & The Gang tradition of their early work. Ronald Bell of Kool & Gang is still working with the group – and he wrote a lot of material and also performs on the ... read moreCD
Damn wonderful solo work from Chaka Khan – a record that holds onto all the best funky elements of her 70s music with Rufus – but also finds a way to put the lady even more strongly out front! There's maybe a bit more of a clubby vibe here than before, but never in a cheesy or ... read moreCD
One of THE electric blues records of the 60s – a seminal set by Albert King that was probably blasted out of more college dorm rooms than southside juke joints, but which still more than deserves its due! The set was recorded by Stax with a nice raw sound – guitar very much upfront, ... (Blues, Soul)read moreCD
(Out of print, gold CD pressing from Mobile Fidelity.)
Collects b-sides, alternate takes, plus unissued cuts from Albert King's run at Stax and features Isaac Hayes, Booker T, Steve Cropper, and others! 13 tracks total. (Blues, Soul)CD
One of the standout classics from BB King's legendary run at Kent – a classic album with a cool little cover to boot! Arrangements on the set are by Maxwell Davis – who has this great way of bringing out some of the jazzier currents in BB's music – almost the same Memphis blend ... (Blues, Soul)read moreCD
(Comes in a great little cardboard LP-styled sleeve!)
An excellent set by BB King – one of his best from the 60s, and a smoking live set recorded at Chicago's legendary Regal Theatre! The enthusiasm at the venue shows that BB's Memphis-honed style is a perfect fit for the electrified Chicago sound of the 60s – and the recording really ... (Blues, Soul)read moreCD
(Back page of the booklet has some wear.)
Benidito King —
Magic Moment ... CD Essential/Society Hill, 2023. Used ...
$4.99
Son of Ben E King, performing his father's hits. CD
A solid overview of RCA material from Evelyn Champagne King – from the disco era hits, catchy club soul, and synth soaked 80s grooves! Evelyn's sound is usually upbeat and catchy, but she's does her thing and more measured and and smoothed out soul numbers, and bass & synth grooves in ... read moreCD
Includes the songs "Soul Twist", "Twisting Time", "Sack O' Woe", "Wobble Twist", "Irrestible You", "Twisting With The King", "Midnight Blue", "Hot Potato", "Air Raid" and more. CD
A lasting 70s classic from Frederick Knight – easily his best-remembered album, thanks to the legendary title track! The set's got a slow-burning, deeply soulful feel all the way through – one that takes Knight's high-end vocals, and backs them with some bottom-burning instrumentation ... read moreCD
A pivotal album for Gladys Knight and group – as the record features their super-huge hit "The Midnight Train To Georgia", a landmark track that not only had a catchy pop hook, but which spoke volumes about African-American migration in the postwar years. The track's one of those ... read moreCD
A pivotal album from Kool & The Gang – a record that pushes the group past their roots as a funky 45 combo, and into larger, more righteous territory overall! There's some nicely spiritual vibes running through the set – almost as if they borrowed a bit of energy from Earth Wind ... read moreCD
The first album by the second group to call themselves the Last Poets – and as fierce a document of their rich talents as you'll ever find – bursting forth with anger and righteousness at a level as tight as Gil Scott-Heron's first album! The group here is the key second lineup of the ... read moreCD
Includes "Lost Ones", "Ex-Factor", "To Zion", "Doo Wop", "Superstar", "Final Hour", "When It Hurts So Bad", "I Used To Love Him", "Forgive Them Father", "Every Ghetto, Every City", "Nothing Even ... (Hip Hop, Soul)read moreCD
A surprisingly wonderful set from deep soul diva Bettye Lavette – a record that's actually as good as most of her older work, and that's something we didn't expect! We'll be honest in saying that we're always pretty darn suspicious of comeback albums by older soul singers – and usually ... read moreCD
The long-overdue return of Bettye Lavette to Muscle Shoals – the scene of her ill-fated album for Atlantic Records from the early 70s – hence the title of this album! The style here is certainly classic, and very old school – with backings provided by The Drive-By Truckers, whose ... read moreCD
Self-released album from soulful folk singer Donal Leace – whose previous album came out on Atlantic way back in 1972 under the guidance of Roberta Flack – stepping out here on titles that include "The Water Is Wide", "Eres Tu", "Bluejay", "Too Far ... read moreCD
John Legend —
Get Lifted ... CD Getting Out Our Dreams/Sony, 2004. Used ...
$1.99
You just have to love that one breath of fresh air on the pop charts at any given point – and John Legend is profoundly worthy of it! John has a feel for classic soul – strings and horns filter in with his own piano playing and emotive vocals – but the production approach is ... (Neo Soul, Soul)read moreCD
With 20 tracks including "Juke", "Sad Hours", "Blues With A Feeling", "It Ain't Right", "Tell Me Mama", "Mean Old World", and "You're So Fine". (Blues, Soul)CD
A sweet SoCal groover from Cecil Lyde – recorded in LA in the early 80s, with a great mix of funky club and mellow soul modes! Cecil's got a great ear for the grittier side of California funk at the time – tunes that still use the heavy bass and keyboards of mainstream work from the ... read moreCD
Features Harry Edison on trumpet, Kenny Burrell on guitar, Wild Bill Davis on organ, and Eddie Costa on vibes. (Vocalists, Soul)CD
(Out of print.)
Ralph MacDonald —
Reunion ... CD Video Arts (Japan), 1995. Used ...
$19.99
An excellent comeback session from funky percussionist Ralph MacDonald – and a reunion of sorts with arranger William Eaton, the force behind the sound of Ralph's classic 70s albums! The record's got a similar approach to MacDonald's Marlin sessions – mixing together jazz and soul with ... read moreCD
A classic bit of indie blues from the Chicago scene – featuring some great players from the second generation after Chess Records stopped picking up the younger local talents! Magic Sam leads the group on vocals and guitar, and he's working here with Mighty Joe Young on guitar, Odie Payne on ... (Blues, Soul)read moreCD